FTA: "the bill also lets broadcast stations make the switch earlier than that date if they are ready. If the stations do make that early switch, that spectrum can immediately be allocated to public safety and other uses."
also
FTA: "consumers with expired converter box coupons may apply for new replacement coupons."
I thought stations can switch earlier if they want anyway. I was under the impression some stations already have gone digital only.
Still, it might placate some of the nay-sayers by making it explicit. To hear many complaining about the deadline being extended, including DM above (why would anyone stop watching TV over the fact that some analog stations are still on the air?) you'd think that there isn't going to be any digital broadcasting until February?
The fact is almost all stations are broadcasting in digital right now. Nothing about the delay changes that. What is does do something about is the fact that the shortage of coupons, which is suddenly a big deal with the economy crapping out, is going to prevent near universal take-up of digital in the two weeks left.
@ David: I thought those clauses were in the bill that got killed in the House the other day - I know for sure that the first part (for early switchover) was included; that's part of the reason it even made past the Senate the first time around.
My local fox channel has been running commercials that are are going to shut down broadcasting for 3 days to convert to digital. I think it was today, but it was definitely before the 17th.
The phone has 256MB of RAM and a 1GHz processor, which do the job reasonably well, though the Anna interface will likely leave something to be desired for many smartphone users.
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So what were the edits? That's the real story.
FTA: "the bill also lets broadcast stations make the switch earlier than that date if they are ready. If the stations do make that early switch, that spectrum can immediately be allocated to public safety and other uses."
also
FTA: "consumers with expired converter box coupons may apply for new replacement coupons."
I thought stations can switch earlier if they want anyway. I was under the impression some stations already have gone digital only.
Still, it might placate some of the nay-sayers by making it explicit. To hear many complaining about the deadline being extended, including DM above (why would anyone stop watching TV over the fact that some analog stations are still on the air?) you'd think that there isn't going to be any digital broadcasting until February?
The fact is almost all stations are broadcasting in digital right now. Nothing about the delay changes that. What is does do something about is the fact that the shortage of coupons, which is suddenly a big deal with the economy crapping out, is going to prevent near universal take-up of digital in the two weeks left.
@ David: I thought those clauses were in the bill that got killed in the House the other day - I know for sure that the first part (for early switchover) was included; that's part of the reason it even made past the Senate the first time around.
My local fox channel has been running commercials that are are going to shut down broadcasting for 3 days to convert to digital. I think it was today, but it was definitely before the 17th.